IPL 10, Match 7 MI v KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted XI

It will be a battle between two powerhouses of IPL when Mumbai Indians meet the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 7th match of the tournament at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The odds are in favour of Mumbai as they have a superior record against the KKR with a 13-5 win-loss ratio. Kolkata has managed to edge out Mumbai twice in the recent past and will surely look to take heart from the fact.

Despite a late hurricane by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the visitors suffered at the hands of RPS captain Steve Smith as the Aussie smashed them all round the mark and reached the target set by Mumbai with a delivery to spare. KKR, on the other hand, looked totally unfazed chasing a total more than competitive total of 184. Openers Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir made light work of the total set by Gujarat Lions as they strolled home by all 10 wickets and with more than 5 overs remaining.

So with the 2nd encounter of both the teams scheduled to commence in less than 6 hours time let us have a look at the Predicted XI of Kolkata Knight Riders

Chris Lynn

After the mind-boggling innings against the Gujarat Lions in the opening encounter, there is no doubt that Lynn will open the batting with captain Gautam Gambhir even in the 2nd encounter against Mumbai Indians. He looked a class apart and took on the Lions bowlers with disdain.

It was brutal hitting at its very best. It was a carnage from the swashbuckler as he remained unbeaten on 93 of a mere 41 deliveries, an innings constructed with 6 fours and 8 sixes.

He never looked in any discomfort what so ever and bludgeoned the listless Gujarat bowler all around the Saurashtra Cricket Association Ground in Rajkot. With the amount of success he got in BBL, Lynn will surely look to replicate his performance from the opening match through the rest of the tournament.

Gautam Gambhir (C)

The southpaw played a resounding innings and despite playing the 2nd fiddle to a more attacking Lynn, Gambhir remained unbeaten on 76. He looked in ominous touch and stroke boundaries at will. It was simply entertainment at its best with both of them going hammers and tongs

The left-hander didn’t hit a single six during his innings but his 12 fours throughout his exceptional batting display will surely keep him in good stead ahead of the 2nd encounter.

He will surely look to handle his troops a little better this time around, given the fact Mumbai have a clear edge over KKR in the head to head record. After the exceptional victory in the opening encounter, Gambhir will surely push his boys for the 2nd consecutive win in the tournament. He will keep in mind that Mumbai are late bloomers and they must cash in on the opportunity.

Robin Uthappa

This right-handed batsman was expected to open the batting with Gauti in the opening game but after Lynn’s heroics he will certainly go down in the order and is expected to come out at No.3. He has the ability to take on the bowlers by the scruff of the neck and decimate them on his given day.

He is a pretty stylish player and looks a class act when on song. Along with Gambhir, the duo developed a great rapport opening the batting but with Lynn going great guns we might not see a repeat of that anymore.

Before playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Uthappa played for 3 other franchises including Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Pune Warriors India. He also plays the role of a wicket keeper in the team which allows the team management to play an extra batsman or bowler depending upon the condition of the pitch.

Manish Pandey

He didn’t get the opportunity to bat in the opening match but will surely get into the groove when he does get a chance during the 2nd encounter against the Mumbai Indians. He came into the limelight by becoming the first Indian batsman to score an IPL century way back in 2009 while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

He is a free flowing batsman and knows when to attack and press on the accelerator. He knows to play the big shots to perfection and is an important middle order batsman for the franchise ever since he was bought in 2014.

He played a heck of an innings on one of the most important days in the history of IPL when his 98 in the final of the 2014 edition against the Kings XI Punjab helped Kolkata win the tournament for the 2nd time in 3 years. Pandey hasn’t been in the greatest of nicks off late but will to get going against the Mumbai Indians.

Suryakumar Yadav

The Mumbai captain is an important member in the middle order and his crucial 30’s and 40’s have proved pivotal in his franchise’s terrific performances. He has the ability to hit the big shots at will and his pick up flick remains his signature shot. Though he hasn’t been able to convert his starts into a really big one but his short and breezy innings have been immensely handy for KKR.

Though he hasn’t been able to convert his starts into a really big one but his short and quickfire innings have been immensely handy for KKR.

Playing 45 matches in total Yadav smashed a shade over 500 runs at an impressive strike rate of over 134. He is also a live wire in the field and has taken some exceptional catches and will surely look to contribute to the team’s cause in whatever way possible.

Yusuf Pathan

This power hitter doesn’t need any introduction especially in the world of T20 cricket. He has the ability to destroy star-studded bowling attacks and make the bowler look clueless on his given day.

Yusuf’s only drawback has been the lack of consistency but nobody have ever questioned his big hitting abilities and that is perhaps the biggest reason why KKR has stuck with him despite his indifferent form.

He also gives the option of bowling 2 3 overs in the middle for not too many. He is not one of the greatest fielders and missed a sitter in the fine leg region of Suresh Raina during the opening match. He will surely look to leave up to his reputation and unleash the array of big shots with which we associate him the most.

Shakib Al Hasan

The No 1 all-rounder in all 3 formats of the game, Shakib is expected to get a game in after returning from the island nation. With the amount of variety he lends into the side, he will directly walk into the side perhaps at the expense of English all-rounder Chris Woakes. With the batting line-up, Kolkata possesses he might not be required to bat but in a scenario of a top order collapse he might be the man to bail his team out of trouble.

Shakib has been a part of the KKR set up from 2011 and will surely look to make the 10th edition of IPL a memorable one for himself and from the franchise’s point of view. He is also an intelligent left arm spinner and knows how to slow the game when the opposition is going great guns. He can also bowl in the powerplay and give his captain some crucial wickets.

In 42 IPL matches, Shakib has amassed 497 runs at a strike rate of over 130. He has also been a useful bowler for them bagging 43 wickets an economy rate of a shade over 7.

Kuldeep Yadav

The left-arm chinaman spinner returned with exceptional figures of 2/25 in the opening match against the Gujarat Lions dismissing two of their most dangerous batsmen Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum.

While he deceived McCullum with a straighter one, Finch attempted a six over the extra cover region and was holed out in the deep.

He bowled with great guile and penetration and took over from where he left in his debut Test against Australia at Dharamsala. He will certainly be a crucial bowler for KKR going into the tournament and he will look to repay the faith showed in him by Gautam Gambhir. 

Sunil Narine

The Caribbean magician wasn’t at his very best in the opening match and conceded 33 runs in his allotted 4 overs without giving away a wicket. He has been a lethal performer for KKR over the years and will definitely look for a turnaround in fortunes in the 2nd encounter against the Mumbai Indians. Ever since remodifying his action, Narine hasn’t been able to produce the wicket taking deliveries more consistently.

He has an uncanny action and can actually flick the ball from any part of his hand. He has the ability to generate vicious turn and extract steep bounce from the pitch. Ever since being bought by KKR in the 2011 auction, he has been a sensational performer bagging 85 wickets from 66 outings at an outstanding average of 19 and an economy rate of a miserly 6.19.

Ever since being bought by KKR in the 2011 auction, he has been a sensational performer bagging 85 wickets from 66 outings at an outstanding average of 19 and an economy rate of a miserly 6.19.

Ankit Rajpoot

Making his domestic debut back in the 2012-13 season as a 19-year-old, Rajpoot bagged 31 wickets in his first season at an exceptional average of 18.80.

Despite playing only 7 matches in the season he impressed the Chennai Super Kings management. He was also the 3rd highest wicket taker of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2016 bagging 14 wickets at an average of 14.

In the 2017 IPL auction, the fast bowler was bought by KKR at a whopping price of Rs 1.5 crores. He might be included in the XI given the fact there are already so many spinners in the team. He is definitely a promising prospect and will look to make full use of his potential. In 6 IPL matches so far, Rajpoot has only bagged 4 wickets.

Trent Boult

The New Zealand left-arm seamer went for some tap in the opening game and conceded 40 runs in his allotted four overs bagging just a solitary wicket. He wasn’t finding the Yorkers to perfection and leaked runs, especially in the death. He bowled well with the new ball but in his return spell, Boult wasn’t up to them and went for runs.

But given the fact he is a world class seamer and knows how to deliver in crunch situations, the KKR camp will be hopeful of an inspired performance from the pacer in the 2nd match.

He was a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in the previous game but took part in only a solitary game in the Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Lions.